Frank González, the beloved and prominent actor in film, radio and television, died on the morning of Friday, April 9, at the age of 73, as a result of a stroke, after several years moved away of audiovisual means by reasons for health, although it always stayed present in the Cuban town through personages like the one of Elpidio Buckets, for that lent its voice in the saga of animated of Juan Register.
It’s hard not to remember it in the face of those expressive phrases full of Cubanism, courage and patriotism that in each new film by Padró he gave us as “A l’macheteee!”, “Corneta, you play the killer”, see you again, compay! ” , “Maria Silvia!” or “This should be seen, compay!”, not to mention his successful career assuming with “versatility and mastery, the many characters he played in various series and dramatized programs,” as noted by UNEAC, in its message of condolence to family, friends and colleagues.
The ICAIC also joined the grief over the loss of Frank, “the voice is part of our history, our culture and our memory.” Throughout his career he participated as an actor in several feature films, such as The Other Francisco (Sergio Giral, 1974); In three-two (Rolando Díaz, 1985); Baraguá (Jorge Massip, 1986), among others.
According to the ICRT website, in an interview where he was asked about his ability to take on multiple voices, Frank commented, “It’s not just about having the ability to change the voice, but to bring a character to life. from a caricature (…). It is to begin to test in a microphone until finding the voice, the timbre that works, the sonorous characteristics that must take the personage from their physical and psychological qualities; I’d say it’s almost innate. ‘ This ability earned him the title of “man of a thousand voices.”
In addition to the character of Elpidio Valdés (who undoubtedly immortalized him), Frank González gave voice to other ICAIC works such as Filminutos, to the character of Matoll by Manuel Lamar (Lillo), and in other films by Juan Register as More Vampires in Havana.
The theater, though less so, also had him among its exponents. And his performances in plays such as The Ten Days That Shook the World with the group Teatre Estudi, La quadratura de el cercle and Romance to Federico at the National Theater are remembered. But, without a doubt, in his more than 50 years of professional work, especially in the dramatic programming of radio and TV, and later in cinema, he found Frank González, the way to leave an indelible mark on national culture.
His last public appearance was on October 24, at the José Martí Memorial, where he received the 2019 National Television Award along with other artists. He also received the Cuban Radio Microphone and the Distinction for National Culture, awarded by the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba and the ACTUAR 2016 Award for the Work of Life, awarded by the Artistic Agency of Performing Arts.
At the request of his relatives, his body will be burned.